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H8515
2026 -- H 8515
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LC006029
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MAY 3-9, 2026, TO BE "COMPOSTING AWARENESS WEEK" IN THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By:
Representatives Cortvriend, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
McGaw, Carson, Boylan, Fogarty, Ajello, and Fellela
Date Introduced:
May 05, 2026
Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Each year, Composting Awareness Week is celebrated nationwide during
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the first full week of May with the goal of raising public awareness of the environmental,
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economic, and societal benefits of composting; and
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WHEREAS, Compost is a mixture of organic materials such as yard trimmings,
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vegetable and fruit peels and scraps, other food waste, flowers, eggshells, paper products,
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nutshells, sawdust, wood chips, biosolids, manure, hay shavings, and leaves. These materials are
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rich in moisture and nutrients, and when added to the soil in gardens, farms, and landscapes, they
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enhance plant growth, soil structure and overall ecosystem health; and
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WHEREAS, By retaining and transferring moisture through the soil to plants,
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composting minimizes the need for irrigation, reduces water usage by up to 30 percent, conserves
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water during droughts, and prevents flooding by retaining water that would otherwise enter drains
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and sewers; and
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WHEREAS, Rich in both nutrients and beneficial organisms, compost supports plant
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health and growth, soil biodiversity, as well as organisms such as worms, centipedes, spiders,
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beetles, and fungal mycelium. This minimizes the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides,
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thereby reducing soil and water pollution; and
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WHEREAS, Composting reduces waste by reusing and recycling organic materials,
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which make up approximately 30 percent of all materials sent to landfills, and can help
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communities that implement composting programs to efficiently divert waste from landfills and
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promote more sustainable practices; and
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WHEREAS, The beneficial organisms and microbes in compost also sequester and retain
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carbon in the soil, helping to prevent carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases, from
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being released into the atmosphere in large amounts due to decomposing waste in landfills; and
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WHEREAS, Incorporating compost into certain public works projects, such as the
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construction and improvement of parks, trails, highways, and green spaces, can lead to large-scale
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reductions in pollution, help to prevent climate change, and lead to the creation of green jobs;
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now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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proclaims May 3-9, 2026 to be "Composting Awareness Week" and respectfully urges the
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Governor and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to observe the week
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with appropriate activities and programs. We, moreover, encourage all Rhode Islanders to start
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composting and help build a healthier, more sustainable environment for all; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the
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State of Rhode Island, and Terrence Gray, Director of the Rhode Island Department of
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Environmental Management.
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LC006029
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